Garment stiffener packaging arrangement, assembly, and methods

ABSTRACT

A garment stiffener packaging arrangement, assembly, and associated methods provide a user with ready access to adhesively attachable garment stiffener structure for rendering an otherwise flexible or flaccid target garment portion substantially stiff or planar. The garment stiffener assembly central to the invention comprises a garment stiffener structure, adhesive material permanently applied thereto, and an optional backing material. The stiffener structure is formed from a substantially planar, semi-rigid material. The stiffener structure may be rolled so as to enable the users to unroll stiffener segments as may be required, and detach portions of the stiffener structure from the stiffener roll for affixation to targeted garment portions.

PRIOR HISTORY

This application is a continuation-in-part patent application claimingthe benefit of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed inthe United States Patent and Trademark Office on 2 Dec. 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a garment stiffener packagingarrangement, assembly, and method associated therewith. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a garment stiffenerassembly for rendering certain relatively flexible or non-planar targetgarment portions relatively rigid and/or planar.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

As is aptly noted in U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2005/0160520,authored by Forrest, the flexible collars of collared shirts tend to lieirregularly or tend to curl into non-planar configurations as a resultof washing, drying, or exposure to high humidity environments. While thecollared shirts may be laundered and ironed so as to render planar orwrinkle-free the collars, the shirt collars nevertheless tend to curl.In the past, these collar appearance problems have been addressedthrough the use of collar stiffening devices of various shapes andfunctions with varied results or levels of effectiveness.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,110,525 ('525 Patent), which issued to Kass, forexample, discloses a Collar for Personal Wear. The '525 Patent describesa stiffening insertion device for soft and semi-soft foldable collars ofthe type having a pocket on the inner surface of each tip of the outerfold of the collar consisting of an elastic plate shaped body conformingin shape to the tip of the collar and of substantial width and composedof a Celluloid-like material bent upon itself at a sharp angle toprovide closely spaced leg portions arranged within the fold of thecollar so that the bend extends circumferentially of the collar to asubstantial extent, one leg portion of the body being partly received inthe pocket at the tip of the outer fold of the collar, the other legportion being free of connection with the collar whereby a tie may bereceived between the two leg portions.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,147 ('147 Patent), which issued to Duffy, disclosesa Shirt Collar Construction. The '147 Patent describes a pre-formedlayered collar stiffener sub-assembly, which assembly is insertedbetween the layers of a collar sub-assembly at the wing portionsthereof. A single line of stitching not only completes the securement ofthe layers of the collar but locates and secures the collar stiffenersub-assembly therein.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,865,286 ('286 Patent), which issued to Tiss, discloses aCollar Stay. The '286 Patent describes a collar stay in the form of astiff yieldably flexible flat substantially H-shaped material havingvertically oriented opposite side edges and horizontally oriented upperand lower edges, the upper and lower edges each having a V-shaped notchtherein centrally between the opposite side edges of the material andlocated in a common theoretical vertical plane, the notch in thehorizontally oriented upper edge having a depth substantially greaterthan the notch in the horizontally oriented lower edge, one flat surfaceof the material being coated with a pressure sensitive adhesivematerial, and a removable backing material covering the pressuresensitive adhesive material.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,337 ('337 Patent), which issued to Malouf, Jr.,discloses a Shape Retaining Collar Device and Article of Wearing ApparelUsing Same. The '337 Patent describes a shape retaining collar devicefor use with garments of wearing apparel as for example, a shirt havinga torso covering segment. The shape retaining collar device in thegarment construction includes a first fabric portion which is attachableto the torso covering segment and which is generally non-exposed to aviewer.

This first fabric portion may be in the form of a band for attachment tothe garment and extending outwardly from the first fabric portion is asecond fabric portion in the form of a collar which essentially forms aneckline for the garment. Moreover, the second fabric portion terminatesin a pair of edges which are forwardly presented to a viewer of thecollar. A channel is formed within the second fabric portion forreceiving a collar stay and a channel is also formed in the first fabricportion for receiving an integrally formed tab on this collar stay. Thetab is located at an acute angle with respect to the collar stay and isrelatively rigid to retain the shape of the collar at least at an acuteangle with respect to the first fabric portion.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,361 ('361 Patent), which issued to Thomas, disclosesa Collar-Shaping Device. The '361 Patent describes an apparatus for usein shaping casual turn-down collars has a flexible sheet substrate witha profile that fits underneath a casual turn-down collar. There is anadhesive coating on each side of the substrate. The substrate fitswithout showing and with a portion of the substrate near a tip of thecollar. The coating is self-releasing and pressure sensitive. There is acover film on each side of the substrate over the adhesive coating. Thesubstrate has a removal tab section with no adhesive coating on eachside of the substrate. There is a pull-tab on each cover film thatextends beyond the adhesive coating on the substrate. The pull-tabextends over the removal tab section. The collar is manually shaped andthe apparatus is placed between the shirt body and the collar to fix thecollar in place.

United States Patent Application No. US 2005/0160520, which was authoredby Forrest, describes an apparatus and method are disclosed forproviding an adhesive collar stiffening device that is easy to use andprovides sufficient stiffness and flexibility for use with soft collarshirts. The collar stiffening device includes a collar stay having afirst surface and a second surface, a foam layer secured to the secondsurface of the collar stay, an adhesive disposed on at least a portionof the foam layer, and a flexible protective cover layer removablysecured to the foam layer by the adhesive.

United States Patent Application No. 2010/0088801, which was authored bySpiros, describes a slip resistant collar stay resistant to shiftingpositions in its cooperating pocket when the garment in which it is usedis worn. The slip resistant collar stay comprises an elongate body and aslip resistant element disposed thereon, wherein the slip resistantelement is provided on at least one surface of the elongate body of thecollar stay.

From a consideration of the foregoing, it will be noted that the priorart perceives a need for a garment stiffener packaging arrangement andassembly incorporating quadrilateral shaped stiffener structureslinkable into V-shaped or W-shaped packaging arrangements for ease offorming, storage and/or shipping. In this last regard, the prior artperceives a need for such a garment stiffener packaging arrangement andsupporting assembly

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve these and other readily apparent objectives, the presentinvention essentially discloses a garment stiffener assembly, certainpackaging arrangements therefor, and certain methods associatedtherewith. The garment stiffener assembly according to the presentinvention is developed to essentially provide a user with certain meansfor rendering an otherwise flexible, wrinkled, or flaccid portion of agarment substantially rigid and/or planar.

The garment stiffener assembly comprises a garment stiffener structurepreferably constructed from a substantially planar, semi- or relativelyrigid material and formed into a quadrilateral shape such that eachgarment stiffener structure has four edges, four vertices, anadhesive-receiving stiffener face or surface, and an outer or exposedstiffener face or surface. An adhesive material is permanently appliedto the adhesive-receiving stiffener face. The adhesive material istemporarily covered by a backing material.

Notably, the garment stiffener assembly comprises a garment stiffenerstructure having a generally quadrilateral shape. The preferredquadrilateral shape of the garment stiffener structure is believed torepresent the best shape to conform the various shapes of target garmentportions as typified by shirt collars. In this regard, it is noted thatquadrilaterals comprise four (straight) sides or (straight) edges as at19 and four vertices with any number of varied angles extendingtherebetween.

The vertices of a quadrilateral are believed well-suited to fit orotherwise align with corners of shirt collars, and the straight edgesare believed well suited to extend substantially rigid structuraldimension from a corner-aligned vertex into the first and seconddimensions of the target garment portion. In this last regard, it isnoted that a parallelogram-shaped garment stiffener structure provides amore symmetrical stiffening structure about its diagonals, and that arhomboid garment stiffener structure provides differing structuraldimensions in first and second stiffener dimensions. It is thuscontemplated that the parallelogram and/or rhomboid structures providean enhanced garment stiffening function to the structure.

The garment stiffener structure and the adhesive material are preferablytranslucent so as to allow light to pass therethrough and helpcamouflage the structure or render the structure substantially invisiblewhen adhesively attached to the target garment portion. By contrast,however, the backing material is preferably opaque so as to enable theuser to more readily and visually distinguish the translucent garmentstiffener structure and adhesive from the backing material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features of my invention will become more evident from aconsideration of the following brief descriptions of patent drawings:

Figure No. 1 is a frontal or anterior perspective view of a garmentstiffener packaging arrangement according to the present inventionshowing a series of quadrilateral shaped garment stiffener structureslinked via a continuous backing material to form a W-shaped or doubleV-shaped packaging arrangement.

Figure No. 1(a) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the upperportion of a first fold junction of the packaging arrangement otherwisedepicted in Figure No. 1 showing two vertices of adjacent quadrilateralshaped garment stiffener structures linked via a backing material.

Figure No. 1(b) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the upperportion of a second fold junction of the packaging arrangement otherwisedepicted in Figure No. 1 showing two vertices of adjacent quadrilateralshaped garment stiffener structures linked via a backing material.

Figure No. 1(c) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the upperportion of a third fold junction of the packaging arrangement otherwisedepicted in Figure No. 1 showing two vertices of adjacent quadrilateralshaped garment stiffener structures linked via a backing material.

Figure No. 2 is a rear or posterior perspective view of a garmentstiffener packaging arrangement according to the present inventionshowing a series of quadrilateral shaped segments or portions of acontinuous backing material to form a W-shaped or double V-shapedpackaging arrangement.

Figure No. 2(a) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the upperportion of a first fold junction of the packaging arrangement otherwisedepicted in Figure No. 2 showing two vertices of adjacent quadrilateralshaped garment stiffener structures linked via the continuous backingmaterial.

Figure No. 2(b) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the upperportion of a second fold junction of the packaging arrangement otherwisedepicted in Figure No. 2 showing two vertices of adjacent quadrilateralshaped garment stiffener structures linked via the continuous backingmaterial.

Figure No. 2(c) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the upperportion of a third fold junction of the packaging arrangement otherwisedepicted in Figure No. 2 showing two vertices of adjacent quadrilateralshaped garment stiffener structures linked via the continuous backingmaterial.

Figure No. 3 is a frontal or anterior perspective view of a garmentstiffener assembly according to the present invention showing a singlequadrilateral shaped garment stiffener structure with backing materialbeing removed therefrom.

Figure No. 3(a) is a fragmentary enlarged section view of an upperportion of the garment stiffener assembly otherwise depicted in FigureNo. 3 showing the backing material being removed fro the quadrilateralshaped garment stiffener structure.

Figure No. 4 is a first fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view of afirst garment stiffener assembly according to the present inventionshowing three layers of material, namely, from left to right, a backingmaterial layer, an adhesive material layer, and a garment stiffenerstructural layer.

Figure No. 5 is a second fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view of afirst garment stiffener assembly according to the present inventionshowing three layers of material, namely, from left to right, a garmentstiffener structural layer, an adhesive material layer, and a backingmaterial layer being removed from the adhesive material layer.

Figure No. 6 is a top perspective view of a garment stiffener packagingarrangement according to the present invention depicted in a foldedstate and showing a translucent quadrilateral shaped garment stiffenerstructure exploded from a top most exposed opaque backing materialsegment.

Figure No. 6(a) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of a firstcorner portion of the folded garment stiffener packaging arrangementotherwise depicted in Figure No. 6, showing a backing material layeredupon and linking a series of garment stiffener structures.

Figure No. 6(b) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of a secondcorner portion of the folded garment stiffener packaging arrangementotherwise depicted in Figure No. 6, showing a backing material layeredupon and linking a series of garment stiffener structures.

Figure No. 7 is a frontal or anterior plan view of a first alternativegarment stiffener assembly according to the present invention.

Figure No. 8 is a frontal or anterior plan view of a second alternativegarment stiffener assembly according to the present invention.

Figure No. 9 is a top perspective view of a garment stiffener packagingarrangement according to the present invention showing a series ofgarment stiffener assemblies exploded from one another in stackedrelation.

Figure No. 10 is an elevational side view of a garment stiffenerpackaging arrangement according to the present invention showing aseries of garment stiffener assemblies exploded from one another instacked relation.

Figure No. 11 is a fragmentary frontal view of a user wearing a firstshirt having non-planar collar tips extending from the neck portion ofthe first shirt.

Figure No. 12 is a fragmentary frontal view of a user wearing a secondshirt having non-planar collar tips extending from the neck portion ofthe second shirt.

Figure No. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of a user adhesivelyattaching a garment stiffener structure to the underside of a shirtcollar adjacent the corner thereof to render the shirt collarsubstantially planar.

Figure No. 14 is a first sequential diagrammatic side view typedepiction of an enlarged non-planar shirt collar juxtaposed adjacent afirst garment stiffener structure according to the present invention.

Figure No. 15 is a second sequential diagrammatic side view typedepiction of an enlarged shirt collar with adhesively attached firstgarment stiffener structure rendering the shirt collar substantiallyplanar.

Figure No. 16 is a third sequential diagrammatic side view typedepiction of an enlarged shirt collar with adhesively attached firstgarment stiffener structure juxtaposed adjacent a second garmentstiffener structure.

Figure No. 17 is a fourth sequential diagrammatic side view typedepiction of an enlarged shirt collar with adhesively attached first andsecond stacked garment stiffener structures rendering the shirt collarsubstantially planar.

Figure No. 18 is a fragmentary frontal view of a user wearing a firstshirt, the collar tips of which have been outfitted with hidden garmentstiffener structures thereby rendering the collars of the first shirtsubstantially planar.

Figure No. 19 is a fragmentary frontal view of a user wearing a secondshirt, the collar tips of which have been outfitted with hidden garmentstiffener structures thereby rendering the collars of the second shirtsubstantially planar.

Figure No. 20 is a fragmentary depiction of the inner surface of asleeve cuff outfitted with first and second garment stiffener structuresaccording to the present invention thereby rendering portions of thesleeve cuff substantially planar.

Figure No. 21 is a fragmentary depiction of a sleeve cuff outfitted withhidden first and second garment stiffener structures according to thepresent invention thereby rendering portions of the sleeve cuffsubstantially planar.

Figure No. 22 is a fragmentary side or edge view of a second garmentstiffener assembly according to the present invention showing threeprimary layers of structural material, namely, a backing material layersandwiched between first and second garment stiffener structural layers.

Figure No. 23 is a first sequential, fragmentary enlargedcross-sectional view of the second garment stiffener assembly otherwisedepicted in Figure No. 22 showing five layers of material, namely, fromleft to right, (1) a first garment stiffener structural layer, (2) afirst adhesive material layer, (3) a backing material layer, (4) asecond adhesive material layer, and (5) a second garment stiffenerstructural layer.

Figure No. 24 is a second sequential view of the second garmentstiffener assembly otherwise depicted in Figure No. 23 showing therightmost three layers, namely, the backing material layer, the secondadhesive material layer, and the second garment stiffener structurallayer being removed from the leftmost two layers, namely, the firstgarment stiffener structural layer and the first adhesive materiallayer.

Figure No. 25 is a frontal or anterior plan view of a third alternativegarment stiffener assembly according to the present invention showing astraight line perforation for defining a three-sided garment stiffenerstructure.

Figure No. 25(a) is a frontal or anterior plan view of the three-sidedgarment stiffener structure as removed from the garment stiffenerassembly otherwise depicted in Figure No. 25.

Figure No. 26 is a frontal or anterior plan view of a fourth alternativegarment stiffener assembly according to the present invention showing aseries of rounded corner-based perforations for defining a four-sidedgarment stiffener structure with rounded corners.

Figure No. 26(a) is a frontal or anterior plan view of the four-sidedgarment stiffener structure as removed from the garment stiffenerassembly otherwise depicted in Figure No. 26.

Figure No. 27 is a frontal or anterior plan view of a fifth alternativegarment stiffener assembly according to the present invention showing acircular perforation for defining a circular garment stiffenerstructure.

Figure No. 27(a) is a frontal or anterior plan view of the circulargarment stiffener structure as removed from the garment stiffenerassembly otherwise depicted in Figure No. 27.

Figure No. 28 is a frontal or anterior plan view of a sixth alternativegarment stiffener assembly according to the present invention showing anoval perforation for defining an oval garment stiffener structure.

Figure No. 28(a) is a frontal or anterior plan view of the oval garmentstiffener structure as removed from the garment stiffener assemblyotherwise depicted in Figure No. 28.

Figure No. 29 is a fragmentary frontal view of a user wearing a genericcollared shirt having right and left collar sides, each collar sidehaving an inner collar portion and an outer collar portion, the innerand outer collar portions each being outfitted with hidden garmentstiffener structures thereby rendering the inner and outer collarportions substantially planar.

Figure No. 30 is a side view of a first alternative rolled packagingarrangement of a garment stiffener assembly according to the presentinvention showing an unrolled segment extending from a rolled portion ofthe packaging arrangement with a backing material layer being separatedfrom a garment stiffener structural layer.

Figure No. 30(a) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view as sectionedfrom Figure No. 30 depicting a junction site wherein the material layersare being unrolled from the rolled packaging arrangement.

Figure No. 30(b) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view as sectionedfrom Figure No. 30 depicting a junction site wherein the backingmaterial layer is being separated from an adhesive layer as applied tothe garment stiffener structural layer.

Figure No. 30(c) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view as sectionedfrom Figure No. 30(b) depicting the tip of garment stiffener structurallayer with adhesive layer applied thereto.

Figure No. 31 is a side view of a second alterative rolled packagingarrangement of a garment stiffener assembly according to the presentinvention showing an unrolled segment extending from a rolled portion ofthe packaging arrangement with upper and lower garment stifferstructural layers being separated from an intermediate backing materiallayer.

Figure No. 31(a) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view as sectionedfrom Figure No. 31 depicting a junction site wherein the material layersare being unrolled from the rolled packaging arrangement.

Figure No. 31(b) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view as sectionedfrom Figure No. 31 depicting a junction site wherein the upper and lowergarment stiffener structural layers with respective adhesive layersapplied thereto being separated from the intermediate backing materiallayer.

Figure No. 31(c) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view as sectionedfrom Figure No. 31(b) depicting the tip of the upper garment stiffenerstructural layer with adhesive layer applied thereto.

Figure No. 31(d) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view as sectionedfrom Figure No. 31(b) depicting the tip of the lower garment stiffenerstructural layer with adhesive layer applied thereto.

Figure No. 32 is a side view of a third alternative rolled packagingarrangement of a garment stiffener assembly according to the presentinvention showing an unrolled segment extending from a rolled portion ofthe packaging arrangement.

Figure No. 32(a) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view as sectionedfrom Figure No. 32 depicting a junction site wherein the material layersare being unrolled from the rolled packaging arrangement.

Figure No. 32(b) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view as sectionedfrom Figure No. 32 depicting a garment stiffener structural layer withan applied adhesive layer.

Figure No. 32(c) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view as sectionedfrom Figure No. 32(b) depicting the tip of garment stiffener structurallayer with adhesive layer applied thereto.

Figure No. 33 is a frontal view of a series of four alternative rolledpackaging arrangements of garment stiffener assemblies according to thepresent invention as received upon a roll support rod for enabling auser to unroll said packaging arrangements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND METHODOLOGY

Referring now to the drawings with more specificity, the preferredembodiment of the present invention concerns a garment stiffenerassembly as at 10, a preferred packaging arrangement therefor as at 30,an alternative packaging arrangement as at 31, and certain methodsassociated therewith. The garment stiffener assembly 10 according to thepresent invention is developed to essentially provide a user withcertain means for rendering an otherwise flexible, wrinkled, or flaccidportion of a garment substantially rigid and/or planar.

In this regard, the reader is directed to Figure Nos. 11, 12, and 14,which figures depict shirt collars as at 11 (i.e. exemplary garmentportions) having generally non-planar, or flaccid construction. Thepresent garment stiffener assembly 10 is believed to enable users toremedy, stiffen, and/or make firm or planar such garment portions.Accordingly, when the garment stiffener structure 12 is adhesivelyattached to the target garment portion 13, the target garment portion 13is rendered substantially planar as comparatively depicted in Figure No.11 versus Figure No. 18; Figure No. 12 versus Figure Nos. 19; and FigureNo. 14 versus Figure Nos. 15-17.

Referencing Figure No. 29, it will be seen that the user is wearing ageneric collared shirt having a right collar side as at 60, and a leftcollar sides as at 61. Each of the collar sides 60 and 61 has an inner,neck-opposing collar portion as at 11(b) and an outer, folded collarportion as at 11(a). The inner and outer collar portions 11(b) and 11(a)are each outfitted with hidden garment stiffener structures 12 therebyrendering the inner and outer collar portions 11(b) and 11(a)substantially planar.

The garment stiffener assembly 10 comprises a garment stiffenerstructure 12 preferably constructed from a substantially planar, semi-or relatively rigid material (as compared to the relatively flexiblematerial or fabric of the target garment portion) (such as polyethylenesheeting) and preferably formed into a quadrilateral shape such thateach garment stiffener structure 12 has four edges, four vertices, anadhesive-receiving stiffener face or surface as at 14, and an outer orexposed stiffener face or surface as at 15. The exposed stiffener faces15 may be preferably folded into contact with one another, which foldedand contacting exposed stiffener faces 15 may well function to protecteach other from abrasions and thus maintaining the transparency of thestructure(s) 12.

An adhesive material 16 is permanently applied to the adhesive-receivingstiffener face 14. The adhesive material 16 is thus layered upon thestructure 12 and is sufficiently tacky so as to removably and adhesivelyattach the structure 12 to most forms of fabric or garments. Theadhesive material 16 is temporarily covered by a backing material as at17, which backing material 17 is preferably formed from a substantiallyplanar, flexible (e.g. paper-based) material. The garment stiffenerstructure 12 is thus removably and adhesively attached to the backingmaterial 17 via the adhesive material 16. In other words, the backingmaterial 17 temporarily covers the adhesive material 16 for selectiveexposure and adhesive attachment to the target garment portion as at 13.The garment stiffener structure 12, when adhesively attached to thetarget garment portion 13, essentially functions to render the targetgarment portion 13 substantially planar.

Notably, the garment stiffener assembly 10 comprises a garment stiffenerstructure 12 preferably having a generally quadrilateral shape. Thepreferred quadrilateral shape of the garment stiffener structure 12 isbelieved to be represent the best shape to conform the various shapes oftarget garment portions 13 as typified by shirt collars 11, but as alsoexemplified by shirt cuffs as at 18. In this regard, it is noted thatquadrilaterals comprise four (straight) sides or (straight) edges as at19 and four vertices as at 20 with any number of varied angles extendingtherebetween.

The vertices 20 of a quadrilateral are believed well-suited to fit orotherwise align with corners 21 of shirt collars 11 and/or corners 22 ofcuffs 18 (it may be noted that the angled stiffener structure may alsoaccommodate button holes 25 or buttons as generally depicted in FigureNo. 20), and the straight edges 19 are believed well suited to extendsubstantially rigid structural dimension from a corner-aligned vertex 20into the first and second dimensions of the target garment portion 13.In this last regard, it is noted that a parallelogram-shaped garmentstiffener structure 12 (as generally depicted in Figure No. 7) providesa more symmetrical stiffening structure about its diagonals, and that arhomboid garment stiffener structure 12 (as generally depicted in FigureNo. 8) provides differing structural dimensions in first and secondstiffener dimensions. It is thus contemplated that the parallelogramand/or rhomboid structures provide an enhanced garment stiffeningfunction to the structure 12.

In this last regard, it is noted that a rhomboid quadrilateral enablesthe user to align the structure 12 in such a manner as to match therelatively long dimension of the structure 12 with the relatively longdimension of the target garment portion 13, as well as match therelatively short dimension of the structure 12 with the relatively shortdimension of the target garment portion 13. Referencing Figure No. 13,for example, it will be seen that the shirt collar 11 has a referencedlength or first garment dimension as at 100, and a referenced width orsecond garment dimension as at 101.

Further, referencing Figure No. 8, it will be seen that the rhomboidstiffener structure 12 comprises a referenced length or first stiffenerdimension as at 102, and a referenced width or second stiffenerdimension as at 103. The first stiffener dimension 102 is believedwell-suited to extend in the same direction as the first garmentdimension 100, and the second stiffener dimension 103 is believedwell-suited to extend in the same direction as the second garmentdimension 101 so as to maximize the rigidity of the target garmentportion 13 in the respective directions.

The garment stiffener structure 12 and the adhesive material 16 arepreferably translucent as generally depicted in Figure No. 6 so as toallow light to pass therethrough and help camouflage the structure 12 orrender the structure 12 substantially invisible when adhesively attachedto the target garment portion 13. By contrast, however, the backingmaterial 17 is preferably opaque so as to enable the user to morereadily and visually distinguish the translucent garment stiffenerstructure 12 and adhesive 16 from the backing material 17.

In another embodiment, it is contemplated that the garment stiffenerassembly 50 as generally depicted in Figure Nos. 22-24 may preferablycomprise three primary layers of structural material, namely, a backingmaterial layer as at 17 sandwiched between first and second garmentstiffener structural layers as at 12. Figure No. 23, for example,depicts a first sequential, fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view ofthe garment stiffener assembly 59 otherwise depicted in Figure No. 22,and in the enlarged view depicts adhesive layers 16 sandwiched betweenthe outer stiffener structural layers 12 and the inner backing materiallayer 17.

Figure No. 23 thus shows five total layers of materials, namely, fromleft to right, (1) a first garment stiffener structural layer 12, (2) afirst adhesive material layer 16, (3) a backing material layer 17, (4) asecond adhesive material layer 16, and (5) a second garment stiffenerstructural layer 12. Figure No. 24 is a second sequential view of thegarment stiffener assembly 50 otherwise depicted in Figure No. 23showing the rightmost three layers, namely, the backing material layer17, the second adhesive material layer 16, and the second garmentstiffener structural layer 12 being removed from the leftmost twolayers, namely, the first garment stiffener structural layer 12 and thefirst adhesive material layer 16.

Figure Nos. 30-32(c) depicts a series of alternative rolled packagingarrangements of the basic garment stiffener assemblies heretoforedescribed and specified. Figure No. 30, for example, shows a firstalternative rolled packaging arrangement 80 of garment stiffenerassembly 10 according to the present invention showing an unrolledsegment 81 extending from a rolled portion 82 of the packagingarrangement 80 with backing material layer 17 being separated from agarment stiffener structural layer 12.

Figure No. 31 is a side view of a second alterative rolled packagingarrangement 83 of garment stiffener assembly 50 according to the presentinvention showing an unrolled segment 81 extending from a rolled portion82 of the packaging arrangement 83 with upper and lower garment stifferstructural layers 12 being separated from an intermediate backingmaterial layer 17. Figure No. 32 is a side view of a third alternativerolled packaging arrangement 84 of a garment stiffener assembly 85comprising simply a garment stiffener structural layer 12 with appliedadhesive 16 (akin to a roll of tape, but with structural layers 12).

Figure No. 33 is a frontal view of a series of four alternative rolledpackaging arrangements of garment stiffener assemblies according to thepresent invention as received upon a roll support rod 86 for enabling auser to unroll said packaging arrangements. In this regard, it iscontemplated that users who may be in the business of maintaining shirtsand other garmentry (for example, dry cleaners) would benefit greatlyfrom having the garment stiffener assemblies packaged in rolledarrangements so as to more effectively apply stiffener structures totarget garment areas. It is contemplated that the stiffener structurallayers 12 may be pre-formed shapes defined by perforations 40 or may besimply shaped by a cutting instrument 87 as generally depicted in FigureNo. 33.

While the foregoing specifications set forth much specificity, the sameshould not be construed as setting forth limits to the invention butrather as setting forth certain preferred embodiments and features. Forexample, as prefaced hereinabove, it is contemplated that the presentinvention essentially provides a garment stiffener packagingarrangement, assembly, and certain methods associated therewith.

The garment stiffener packaging arrangement is believed to provide auser with ready access to a series of interconnected garment stiffenerstructures as a means for rendering target garment portions stiff orsubstantially planar. The packaging arrangement is thus believed toessentially comprise at least two garment stiffener structures (as at12), each of which are preferably formed from a substantially planar,semi-rigid material into a quadrilateral shape, thus having four edges,four vertices, an adhesive-receiving stiffener face, and an exposedstiffener face.

Alternative selective stiffener shapes, however, are contemplated asgenerally depicted or taught in Figure Nos. 25-28(a). In this regard, itis noted that any number of stiffener shapes, as exemplified by atriangular stiffener shape as at 70; a round-cornered quadrilateralstiffener shape as at 71; a circular stiffener shape as at 72, and anoval stiffener shape as at 73. Referencing the noted figures, it iscontemplated that the garment stiffener structure 12 may be perforatedas at 40 so as to enable the user to more easily render a selectedshape, as, for example, by cutting the structure(s) 12 along theperforation(s) 40. Figure No. 25 depicts the variously described layersor structures, namely, stiffener structure 12, adhesive material 16, andbacking material 17.

An adhesive material (as at 16) is applied to the adhesive-receivingstiffener face of each garment stiffener structure, and a backingmaterial or structure (as at 17) is removably and adhesively attached tothe adhesive material. The backing material is preferably formed from asubstantially planar, flexible material and comprises at least oneV-shape as generally referenced at 104 in Figure No. 1. Notably, whenlinking at least four garment stiffener structures 12, the backingmaterial 17 may well comprise a W-shape as at 105 in Figure No. 2. Thebacking material 17 thus functions to link the garment stiffenerstructures 12 basically into either V-shaped or W-shaped packagingarrangement(s).

Each garment stiffener structure 12 is removably and adhesively attachedto the backing material 17 (via the adhesive material 16) such thatadjacent edges 19 of the garment stiffener structures 12 are juxtaposedone another adjacent a foldable space as at 24. The backing material 17thus links the garment stiffener structures 12 into at least oneV-shaped packaging arrangement as at 30 respectively foldable at thefoldable space(s) 24 via the backing material 17 for collapsing thegarment stiffener structures 12 into a series of non-adhesively stackedand interconnected garment stiffener structures 12 as generally depictedin Figure No. 6.

In this last regard, it is noted that when a first garment stiffenerstructure 12 (with permanently applied adhesive material 16) is removedfrom the backing material 17, a backing surface segment as at 25 becomesexposed. The backing material 17 remains foldable at the foldable space24 such that the exposed backing surface segment may fold intonon-adhesive contact with an exposed stiffener face 15, and thus thebacking material may also function to protect the exposed stiffener face15 from abrasions for maintaining the transparency of the stiffenerstructure 12 (it being noted that surface abrasions often obscure thetransparency of otherwise translucent material).

In addition to the foregoing structural considerations, it is furtherbelieved that the inventive concepts discussed support certain newmethodologies and/or processes. In this regard, it is contemplated thatthe foregoing structures support a garment stiffener packaging methodand/or a garment stiffening method. It is believed the packaging method,for example, may well provide a user with ready access to a series ofinterconnected garment stiffener structures and comprises the steps,including provision of at least two garment stiffener structures and abacking material of the types earlier specified.

A permanent adhesive material may be applied to the adhesive-receivingstiffener faces of the garment stiffener structures and the backingmaterial may be removably and adhesively applied to the garmentstiffener structures via the permanent adhesive material such thatadjacent edges of the garment stiffener structures are juxtaposed oneanother adjacent a foldable space, thereby linking the garment stiffenerstructures into at least one V-shaped packaging arrangement. TheV-shaped packaging arrangement is thus foldable at the foldable space(s)via the backing material for collapsing the garment stiffener structuresinto a series of non-adhesively stacked and interconnected garmentstiffener structures.

The garment stiffening method is believed to essentially function torender a portion of a garment substantially planar or stiff, and may besaid to comprise a series of steps, including the provision of a firstor primary garment stiffener assembly as generally referenced at 26 inFigure Nos. 14 and 15. The primary garment stiffener assembly 10 may besaid to comprise a primary garment stiffener structure as at 12, aprimary adhesive material as at 16, and a primary backing material as at17 substantially as previously specified.

A target garment portion 13 such as a flexible (or wrinkled) shirtcollar 11 or a flexible sleeve cuff 18 may then be identified,whereafter the primary backing material may be removed from the primaryadhesive material thereby selectively exposing the primary adhesivematerial; and thus the primary garment stiffener structure may beadhesively applied to the identified target garment portion 13 via theselectively exposed primary adhesive material 16 thereby rendering theflexible target garment portion 13 substantially planar via thesubstantially planar, relatively-rigid primary garment stiffenerstructure 12.

Notably, the target garment portion 13 comprises an exposed garmentsurface as at 27, a hidden garment surface as at 28, and angled portionas at 29. Preferably, although not critically (given the transparency ortranslucency of the stiffener structure 12), the primary garmentstiffener structure 12 is attached to the identified target garmentportion at the hidden garment surface 28. Further, the primary garmentstiffener structure 12 with applied primary adhesive material 16 may bealigned adjacent the angled portion 19 before adhesively attaching theprimary garment stiffener structure 12 to the identified target garmentportion 13.

As has been previously noted, the identified target garment portion 13has first and second garment dimensions as at 100 and 101, wherein thefirst garment dimension 100 is generally greater than the second garmentdimension 101. Further noted, a rhombic garment stiffener structure 12(first and second stiffener dimensions as at 102 and 103) comprises thefirst stiffener dimension 102 greater than the second stiffenerdimension 103, and thus the step of aligning the garment stiffenerstructure 12 may be said to comprise certain steps, including aligningthe first stiffener dimension 102 with the first garment dimension 100;and aligning the second stiffener dimension 103 with the second garmentdimension 101 for maximizing stiffening performance of the primarygarment stiffener structure 12.

Referencing Figure Nos. 14-17, it is further contemplated that thegarment stiffening method may be said to comprise provision of at leastone secondary garment stiffener assembly substantially identical to theprimary garment stiffener assembly. Secondary backing material may beremoved from secondary adhesive material of the secondary garmentstiffener assembly thereby selectively exposing the secondary adhesivematerial. The secondary garment stiffener assembly may then beadhesively attached to the primary exposed stiffener face of the primarygarment stiffener structure via the selectively exposed secondaryadhesive material thereby rendering the target garment portionsubstantially planar via the substantially planar, relatively-rigidprimary and secondary garment stiffener structures.

Referencing Figure Nos. 30-33, it is further contemplated that thegarment stiffening method may be said to comprise the steps of:providing a primary garment stiffener assembly wherein the primarygarment stiffener assembly comprises a primary garment stiffenerstructure and a primary adhesive material.

The primary garment stiffener structure is preferably formed from asubstantially planar, semi-rigid material, and has a primaryadhesive-receiving stiffener face and a primary exposed stiffener face.The primary adhesive material is permanently applied to the primaryadhesive-receiving stiffener face, and the primary adhesive material isremovable from the first exposed stiffener face when rolled into contacttherwith.

The primary garment stiffener assembly may then be rolled into astiffener roll as at 82. The stiffener roll 82 may comprise repeatinglayers of primary garment stiffener structure 12 and primary adhesivematerial 16 as generally depicted in Figure Nos. 32-32(c).

A flexible target garment portion may then be identified, and astiffener segment 81 may be unrolled from the stiffener roll 82. Aportion of the primary garment stiffener structure may then be detachedfrom the stiffener segment 81 and adhesively attached to the identifiedtarget garment portion via selectively exposed primary adhesive materialthereby rendering the target garment portion substantially planar viathe substantially planar, semi-rigid portion of the primary garmentstiffener structure.

The garment stiffener packaging arrangement according to the presentinvention may further include backing material as at 17, which backingmaterial 17 is preferably formed from a substantially planar, flexiblematerial such as a paper-based material.

Thus, the garment stiffener structure 12 may be removably and adhesivelyattached to the backing material 17 (via the adhesive material layer 16)such that the stiffener roll 82 comprises repeating layers of firstgarment stiffener structure 12, first adhesive material 16 and backingmaterial 17 as generally and comparatively depicted in Figure Nos.30-30(c).

Further, the garment stiffener packaging arrangement according to thepresent invention may be said to comprise a second garment stiffenerstructure (as at 12 and a second adhesive material as at 16. In thisregard, it should be noted that the second garment stiffener structure12 is substantially identical to the first garment stiffener structure12, and that the second adhesive material 16 is substantially identicalto the first adhesive material 16.

The arrangement is formed such that the backing material 17 issandwiched intermediate the first and second adhesive materials. Thus,the stiffener roll 82 comprises repeating layers of first garmentstiffener structure 12, first adhesive material 16, backing material 17,second adhesive material 16 and second garment stiffener structure 12 asgenerally and comparatively depicted in Figure Nos. 31-31(c).

Accordingly, although the invention has been described by reference tocertain preferred embodiments and certain methodologies, it is notintended that the novel arrangement and methods be limited thereby, butthat modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling withinthe broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosures and the appendeddrawings.

1. A garment stiffener packaging arrangement, said packaging arrangementfor providing ready access to a series of interconnected, adhesivelyattachable garment stiffener structures, said packaging arrangementcomprising: a first garment stiffener structure, the first garmentstiffener structure being formed from a substantially planar, semi-rigidmaterial, and comprising a first adhesive-receiving stiffener face and afirst exposed stiffener face; and a first adhesive material permanentlyapplied to the first adhesive-receiving stiffener face, the firstadhesive material being removable from the first exposed stiffener face,the garment stiffener structure being rolled into a stiffener roll so asto enable the user to selectively unroll stiffener segments from thestiffener roll, the stiffener roll thus comprising repeating layers offirst garment stiffener structure and first adhesive material.
 2. Thepackaging arrangement of claim 1 comprising a backing material, thebacking material being formed from a substantially planar, flexiblematerial, the garment stiffener structure being removably and adhesivelyattached to the backing material via the first adhesive material, thestiffener roll thus comprising repeating layers of first garmentstiffener structure, first adhesive material and backing material. 3.The packaging arrangement of claim 2 comprising a second garmentstiffener structure and a second adhesive material, the second garmentstiffener structure being substantially identical to the first garmentstiffener structure, and the second adhesive material beingsubstantially identical to the first adhesive material, the backingmaterial being sandwiched intermediate the first and second adhesivematerials such that the stiffener roll thus comprises repeating layersof first garment stiffener structure, first adhesive material, backingmaterial, second adhesive material and second garment stiffenerstructure.
 4. The packaging arrangement of claim 2 wherein the garmentstiffener structure and the adhesive material are translucent and thebacking material is opaque, the respective translucent and opaquecharacteristics of the garment stiffener structure, the adhesivematerial, and the backing material for enabling the user to visuallydistinguish the backing material from the garment stiffener structureand adhesive material.
 5. The packaging arrangement of claim 1 whereinthe garment stiffener structure comprises a perforation, the perforationfor enabling the user to selectively shape the garment stiffenerstructure.
 6. A garment stiffener packaging method, said packagingmethod for providing ready access to a garment stiffener structure, saidpackaging method comprising the steps of: providing a first garmentstiffener structure, the first garment stiffener structure being formedfrom a substantially planar, semi-rigid material, the garment stiffenerstructure having a first adhesive-receiving stiffener face and a firstexposed stiffener face; applying a permanent first adhesive material tothe first adhesive-receiving stiffener face, the first adhesive materialbeing removable from the first exposed stiffener face when rolled intocontact therewith; and rolling the first garment stiffener structurewith applied first adhesive material into a stiffener roll, thestiffener roll thus comprising repeating layers of first garmentstiffener structure and first adhesive material.
 7. The garmentstiffener packaging method of claim 6 comprising the steps of providinga backing material, the backing material being formed from asubstantially planar, flexible material; and removably and adhesivelyapplying the backing material to the first garment stiffener structurevia the permanent adhesive material, the stiffener roll thus comprisingrepeating layers of first garment stiffener structure, first adhesivematerial, and backing material.
 8. The garment stiffener packagingmethod of claim 7 comprising the steps of providing a second garmentstiffener structure, the second garment stiffener structure beingsubstantially identical to the first garment stiffener structure;applying a permanent second adhesive material to the second garmentstiffener structure; and removably and adhesively applying the backingmaterial to the second garment stiffener structure via the permanentsecond adhesive material, the stiffener roll thus comprising repeatinglayers of first garment stiffener structure, first adhesive material,backing material, second adhesive material, and second garment stiffenerstructure.
 9. A garment stiffener assembly, said garment stiffenerassembly for providing a user with means for rendering a flexibleportion of a garment substantially planar, said garment stiffenerassembly comprising: a first garment stiffener structure, the firstgarment stiffener structure being formed from a substantially planar,semi-rigid material, the garment stiffener structure having a firstadhesive-receiving stiffener face and a first exposed stiffener face; afirst adhesive material permanently applied to the firstadhesive-receiving stiffener face, the first adhesive material beingremovable from the first exposed stiffener face when rolled into contacttherewith, the garment stiffener structure being rolled into a stiffenerroll so as to enable the user to selectively unroll stiffener segmentsfrom the stiffener roll, the stiffener roll thus comprising repeatinglayers of first garment stiffener structure and first adhesive material.10. The garment stiffener assembly of claim 9 comprising a backingmaterial, the backing material being formed from a substantially planar,flexible material, the garment stiffener structure being removably andadhesively attached to the backing material, the stiffener roll thuscomprising repeating layers of first garment stiffener structure, firstadhesive material and backing material.
 11. The garment stiffenerassembly of claim 10 comprising a second garment stiffener structure anda second adhesive material, the second garment stiffener structure beingsubstantially identical to the first garment stiffener structure, andthe second adhesive material being substantially identical to the firstadhesive material, the backing material being sandwiched intermediatethe first and second adhesive materials such that the stiffener rollthus comprises repeating layers of first garment stiffener structure,first adhesive material, backing material, second adhesive material andsecond garment stiffener structure.
 12. The garment stiffener assemblyof claim 9 wherein the garment stiffener structure and the adhesivematerial are translucent and the backing material is opaque, therespective translucent and opaque characteristics of the garmentstiffener structure, the adhesive material, and the backing material forenabling the user to visually distinguish the backing material from thegarment stiffener structure and adhesive material.
 13. The garmentstiffener assembly of claim 9 wherein the garment stiffener structurecomprises a perforation, the perforation for enabling the user toselectively shape the garment stiffener structure.
 14. A garmentstiffening method, the garment stiffening method for rendering aflexible portion of a garment substantially planar, the garmentstiffening method comprising the steps of: providing a primary garmentstiffener assembly, the primary garment stiffener assembly comprising: aprimary garment stiffener structure and a primary adhesive material, theprimary garment stiffener structure being formed from a substantiallyplanar, semi-rigid material, the primary garment stiffener structurehaving a primary adhesive-receiving stiffener face and a primary exposedstiffener face, the primary adhesive material being permanently appliedto the primary adhesive-receiving stiffener face; rolling the primarygarment stiffener assembly into a stiffener roll, the stiffener rollcomprising repeating layers of primary garment stiffener structure andprimary adhesive material; identifying a flexible target garmentportion; unrolling a stiffener segment from the stiffener roll;detaching a portion of the primary garment stiffener structure from thestiffener segment; and adhesively attaching the portion of the primarygarment stiffener structure to the identified target garment portion viaselectively exposed primary adhesive material thereby rendering thetarget garment portion substantially planar via the substantiallyplanar, semi-rigid portion of the primary garment stiffener structure.15. The garment stiffening method of claim 14 wherein the primarygarment stiffener structure comprises a primary backing material, thestiffener roll comprising comprising repeating layers of primary garmentstiffener structure, primary adhesive material, and primary backingmaterial, the method comprising the step of removing the primary backingmaterial from the primary adhesive material after unrolling thestiffener segment from the stiffener roll.
 16. The garment stiffeningmethod of claim 15 wherein the primary garment stiffener structurecomprises a first and second primary garment stiffener structures, firstand second primary adhesive materials, and a primary backing material,the stiffener roll comprising repeating layers of first primary garmentstiffener structure, first primary adhesive material, primary backingmaterial, second primary adhesive material, and second primary garmentstiffener structure.
 17. The garment stiffening method of claim 14comprising the steps of: providing a secondary garment stiffenerassembly, the secondary garment stiffener assembly being substantiallyidentical to the primary garment stiffener assembly; and adhesivelyattaching the secondary garment stiffener structure to the primaryexposed stiffener face of the primary garment stiffener structure viaselectively exposed secondary adhesive material thereby rendering thetarget garment portion substantially planar via the substantiallyplanar, semi-rigid primary and secondary garment stiffener structures.18. The garment stiffening method of claim 14 comprising the steps of:forming a perforation in the primary garment stiffener structure;selectively shaping the primary garment stiffener structure via theperforation for enhancing alignment of the primary garment stiffenerstructure adjacent the identified target garment portion.